LAS VEGAS: Olympic rugby sevens athlete Adam Channel is among 50 American contenders chasing their aspirations at the NRL Combine over the coming two days.
The top two men and women will earn the opportunity to join training sessions with an NRL or NRLW club in hopes of securing a contract.
“This is huge for me,” said 28-year-old Channel, originally from Long Beach, California, speaking to Wide World of Sports.
“I’ve never played league, but I’ve always been intrigued by the pace and physicality of it.”
“I had a training session with the Cronulla lads the other day, and they shared some advice—thankfully, they didn’t go too hard on me.”
Adam Channel. Getty
While the majority of the participants have backgrounds in American football, Channel has been involved in rugby since childhood, thanks to his grandmother being from New Zealand.
This connection led him to the Paris Olympics, and he’s already experienced Australia by competing in sevens tournaments held in Sydney and Perth.
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“From what I’ve seen, it’s an incredible country, and I would love the chance to live and play rugby league there,” he mentioned.
But does he believe the NRL can captivate the American sporting audience?
“It’s the largest sporting market globally, so the competition is quite intense,” he remarked.
“However, the way these players tackle without pads or helmets, and how the game flows continuously, would definitely interest Americans if they got to experience it on TV.
“I genuinely think they would enjoy it.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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